Sewing-machine drive



June 24 E. J. RENISON SEWING MACHINE DRIVE Filed May 25. 1923 1 4; 7 L I I 1 m I -/7 v Patented June 24, 1924.

UNITED STATES EDWARD J. RENISON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SEWING-MACHINE DRIVE.

Application filed May 25, 1923.

To all whom it may concern. I

Be it known that I, EDWARD J. RnNIsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sewing-Machine Drives, of which the following is a specification. j

This invention relates to improvements in sewing machine drives, and has for its principal object to provide a driving mechanism for sewing machines, which will permit the use of a common power actuated driving source for a battery of machines, and which will dispense with thebelt ordinarily used for such devices, at the same time providing an efficient and satisfactory drive, together with means for controlling the actuation of the same. While this invention is especially adaptable for use with sewing machines in battery installations it is also available for use with satisfaction for the driving of single machine installations.

Another object resides in the means for control of the driving mechanism, whereby the operator may, by simple actuation of a foot treadle, throw into or out of operation the sewing machine.

Other objects reside in the details and arrangement of th structure, and with those objects outlined above, will be more fully disclosed and described in the following specifications and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a front elevation of an embodiment of my invention; and

Fig. 2 is a detail of the clutch mechanism utilized.

Like numerals refer to like elements throughout the drawings. 10 indicates generally a sewing machine of any desired construction, which is provided with th usual. fly wheel 11, having the grooved driving pulley 12, which is provided with a groove 12 of conventional construction, ordinarily used for the accommodation of a belt'of cylindrical or other contour. The machine is supported upon the usual table 1 1, shown of the type ordinarily used where a. battery or plurality of machines is arranged, which, in the embodiment shown consists of the retating power shaft 15, carrying a beveled gear 16, which rotates therewith. Upright frame members 17 extend from the floor to support the table 14, provided with suitable journals for the shaft 15. Projecting in- Serial No. 641,285.

wardly from upright 17, is a bracket 17 through which extends and in which is mounted the tube 18, in which in turn is the rotatable flexible shaft 19, secured at its end to the beveled pinion 20, in constant mesh with bevel gear 16. Projecting upwardly from table 14: is the pedestal 25 having a laterally projecting bracket or lug 25 in which is seated the tube 18. Journaled in a suitable bearing in the upper portion of the pedestal 25 is the rotatable shaft 26, to which are secured the spaced collars 26 on either side of the pedestal 25. Slidably mounted upon the shaft 26 is the collar 27 having a groove 27 therein. In this groove 27 are located the bifurcated extremities 29 of bell crank 29, which is pivoted intermediate its extremities at 29 to a bracket 30, extending downwardly from and secured to the under side of the table 14. At its other extremity bell crank 29 is pivoted at 29 to the actuating link or red 31, in turn pivoted to foot actuatable treadle 82 or any suitabl construction.

Attached to the outer extremity of shaft 26 is the cap 35 having projecting arms 36, each of the arms being slotted at its outer end to accommodate a pivoted finger 37.

Each of these fingers is provided with the engaging tip 37 of leather, rubber or other suitable material, see Fig. 2. Toggle links 88 are each pivoted at one end to lugs 27 at the outer end of collar 27, and at the other end to the fingers 37. The arrange- .ment is such that, as shown, shifting the collar 27 to the left as viewed in the drawings, will result in forcing finger tips 37 into groove 12 of pulley 12, firmly gripping the pulley so that thereafter rotation of the shaft 26 will be imparted thereto. This clutching action is obtained by actuation of the foot treadle 32 in. obvious manner, and declutching is accomplished by reverse movement, as will also be obvious.

With the structure of the character just described, a common source of power may be utilized to drive a plurality of machines and the operator of each machine is enabled to throw into or out of operation hisor her machine at will by a simple movement of the foot.

The grip of the clutch fingers may be increased by increased pressure on the foot treadle, which is an advantage incidental to my construction. The above described construction dispenses with the use of the leatherbelt and coacting pulley of present day use, which are prone to slip, are more expensive-due to necessary frequent replacement and repair-and Which, unless properly guarded, present a danger 1n that the goodsbemg sewed or the clothing or hair of the operator inaybecome entangled,

and I do not Wish to be restricted to the town shown and described except as recited in the a n ended'claims; lVhatIclain1is 1. In mechanism oi the class described, in combination, a gpoiver actuated shaft, a flexible shaft rotatable thereby, aclutch member, a sewing machine :having a rotatablc drive Wheel, means to-transmit rotation of said flexible shaft to said clutch member, and means to'engage said clutch member with said drive Wheel.

2. In mechanism of the class described, in combination, a power actuated shatt,.-a flexible shaft rotatable thereby, a clutch member, a sewing machine having a rotatable drive wh'eeh; means to transn iit rotation of said flexibleshaft to said clutchmember, and means to-engage said clutch member W-ith-said drive wheel, said last named means comprising a treadle and a shittin'g mechan i sn' operably interposed between said clutch member and said treadle. r

In mechanism of the class described, in combination, a power actuated shaft, a sewing machine having a rotatably grooved pulley, a flexible shaft rotated'by'said power shaft, a clutch member rotatable by said flexible shaft, said clutch member being provideclyvith pivoted fingers movable into and out of engagement With said grooved pulley.

' 4;, In mechanism of the class described, in combination, a power actuated shaft, a seW- ing machine having a rotatably grooved pul- --ley, a-fiexible shaft rotated by said power shaft, a clutch member rotatable, by said flexible shaft, said ,clut-chnmemberj'being provided with pivoted fingers movable, into and out of engagement with; said grooved pulley,

said fingers being provided with non-slip material at their contact portlonsi '5; In mechanismgof the class described, in

combination, a" sewing machine having a rotatable pulley member, a rotatable clutch member movable into and out o t engagement with said pulley, a flexible shalt operably attached to said clutch member, means to rotate said shaft, and means to shift said clutchmember into and out of engagement with said pulley.

6. In mechanism of the class described,'in

member, a foot .actu atable treadle, vand a a 4 link operabjly coime'ctingisaidtreadle and said bellcrank,

In testimony whereof, I have subscribed my name. 7 1 r EDWARD J. RENlSON. 

